"Ask Roxann" - Volume 1

As I approach every work day with a list of items to complete, it is inevitable that most of those items go unaddressed due to the unforeseen circumstances of working in a school district. I revel in the thought of checking off completed tasks, however, many days are filled with parent discussions regarding the future of education, Common Core State Standards, new buildings and facilities, specialized programming within the district, and don’t forget Common Core State Standards.  There are so many good questions asked, and our community trumps any list that this “A-Type” school administrator might create to conquer, thus, the reason for this column.

After several conversations with Ms. Betsy Voinovich and Mr. Jim O’Bryan, we thought it would be beneficial to take some time to address the multitude of questions parents and community members might have regarding the Lakewood City Schools. While I might not have all the answers, I am lucky to work among an incredible group of people who collaborate to make the very best decisions to benefit all stakeholders. Not to mention, my office is ten feet from Mr. Jeffrey Patterson, Superintendent of Schools. 

In light of recent Community Meetings surrounding construction, I thought I would start with a misunderstanding I felt needed to be clarified. I have heard more than once, that the budgets for our three elementary projects are inequitable and downright discriminatory. Let me shed some light on this statement. 

Each elementary project follows the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission’s Program of Requirements (POR), based on the enrollment projections completed by Dejong Healy in 2013. The Lakewood Board of Education enhanced that POR by adding additional square footage to build even better facilities for our students and staff. Each building received the same amount of Locally Funded Initiative (LFI) square footage. The architect met with individual school communities, interest groups, and staff members prior to unveiling the first draft of their new facilities. In early September, those drafts were shared with the same groups, and feedback was solicited to make enhancements, changes and/or additions. So where is the misunderstanding? Here is the breakdown:

                 POR Base                  Add LFI             Total Budget

Grant         47,065 sq.ft             8,620 sq.ft          $ 13,923,500.00

Lincoln       47,190 sq.ft.            8,620 sq.ft.         $ 13,954,750.00                 

Roosevelt   47,065 sq.ft.            8,620 sq.ft.         $ 13,923,500.00

Yes, it is true that Lincoln’s budget is slightly higher than that of Grant and Roosevelt. Lincoln’s POR was based on an enrollment projection of 381 students.  Grant and Roosevelt’s POR were both based on 380 students. According to the OFCC each student is allotted 125 square feet, hence the discrepancy in the POR base square footage. 

I hope this information helps to clarify a minor, but very important misunderstanding as we delve deeper into the design phase of our new elementary buildings. We are proud to be members of a community that is so passionate about the education we offer. It is a goal of the Lakewood City Schools, and Superintendent Patterson, to continue to engage the community, staff and students throughout the construction process to “finish the job” on time, within budget and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. 

I look forward to your questions and comments in future “Ask Roxann” articles.

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Volume 10, Issue 19, Posted 4:54 PM, 09.16.2014